Hi-hat technique sweeping motion

[ekim]

Talking about 0:06 to 0:12 here. Not just Ringo but a lot of drummers do this, maybe not as pronounced as this example but I don't even know what you call it and have not found a video demonstrating the technique. Anyone have a link?

 

[niles]

Easier to keep time and maintain a constant sound, side to side, rather than up and down. Give it a try on a ride to. Niles

 

[notINtheband]

I’ve always played shuffles this way. I guess I thought it was universal for swing grooves.

 

[Rockin' Billy]

As you wrote:” Not just Ringo but a lot of drummers do this” is because Ringo did it! : )

 

[BennyK]

Less robotic , more cymbal surface involved = longer notes. Sound faster without playing faster , like a boxers speed bag . May have a bit of Louis Jordan brush in it . Liverpool beat is connected to its swing predecessors

Does the wrist move more naturaly east to west instead of north to south ? I'll research this and get back .

Maybe incorporating the Queen's rotational wave ?

Liverpool isn't that far from Scotland , which as we all know, is the birthplace of curling .

 

[squidart]

My first teacher taught me to side-glance cymbals when crashing and this also applied to shanking the hats closed or semi-open. It's great for slosh!!!
I see no video lessons. Just imagine yourself as a windshield wiper and go!

 

[Ludwigboy]

Easier to keep time and maintain a constant sound, side to side, rather than up and down. Give it a try on a ride to. Niles

I also find it great for keeping time...especially when doing pre 1966 Beatle songs.

 

[Downbeat]

I’ve been doing it for years, never even thought about it.
Probably picked it up watching Ringo.

 

[Tornado]

I've only done it because I was bored.

 

[Tarkus]

I always thought this is simply called "show drumming".

Would be nice to hear if something more serious is behind ... but I doubt. And I bet there are examples pre-dating Ringo.

 

[squidart]

I definitely remember an illustration in an old Zildjian flyer, possibly in a catalog, that showed side-glancing as the proper way to crash and avoid direct hit damage. Whether that was suggested for hats I can't recall but it makes sense for longevity of pies in general when you're shankin'.

 

[jmcohen]

I didn’t think there was a difference in sound between conventional playing and side-sweeping, but the difference is significant on the hi-hat. It took me a while to get used to it, and playing that way (side to side while also striking downward enough to make the desired sound and tempo) is difficult for me over a long period. I play hi-hat right-handed and have found it works best for me to point the palm-side of my wrist toward my left shoulder. This way the movement is still an up and down movement, with a little side-movement thrown in.
Do others do it the same way?

Josh

 

[Houndog]

I need to adopt that , looks hard .

 

[RogersLudwig]

one of my drum teachers "corrected" that habit of mine.

 

[piccupstix]

All part of the dance.

 

[Squirrel Man]

I gave this a try just for fun once. This motion did not come naturally to me. First, I was using more of my forearms rather than mostly my wrist. That's the first thing I find awkward. Second, hitting from an angle back and forth was weird.

I'm sure if I worked on this for an extended period of time it would become part of my muscle vocabulary and something I could do automatically without thinking about it but this technique isn't something I feel a strong need to master.

 

[jmcohen]

I gave this a try just for fun once. This motion did not come naturally to me. First, I was using more of my forearms rather than mostly my wrist. That's the first thing I find awkward. Second, hitting from an angle back and forth was weird.

I'm sure if I worked on this for an extended period of time it would become part of my muscle vocabulary and something I could do automatically without thinking about it but this technique isn't something I feel a strong need to master.

That was exactly my experience. Tough and awkward at first. But since I was in a 60’s band playing plenty of Beatles tunes, I put in the time.

 

[JDA]

sweeping sounds like another profession.

 

[DrummerJustLikeDad]

sweeping sounds like another profession.

Sweeping with a high hat is a very proud profession.

 

[robthedrummer]

Jeff Hamilton talks about playing the ride this way. He learned it from Mel Lewis.